Govt. will ensure remunerative prices for tobacco farmers in A.P., says Minister
Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar said the government was taking comprehensive measures to ensure remunerative prices for tobacco farmers and safeguard their interests. Addressing the
Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar said the government was taking comprehensive measures to ensure remunerative prices for tobacco farmers and safeguard their interests. Addressing the media after a review meeting with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on problems being faced by the tobacco farmers, Mr. Ravi Kumar said the officials were instructed to ensure transparency in the procurement process and prevent any practices that could adversely affect farmers.
All purchases were ordered to be conducted through auction platforms operated by the Tobacco Board, leaving no scope for unauthorised transactions. The Minister said the government would closely monitor procurement to ensure that the farmers received fair value for their produce. He asserted that an increase in production should not be used as a reason to depress prices or disadvantage growers.
Highlighting concerns raised by farmers, Mr. Ravi Kumar said that the rejection of tobacco brought to procurement centres resulted in financial hardship for cultivators. To address the issue, the Chief Minister advised companies to procure tobacco at a minimum price of ₹200 per kg so that the farmers would not
have to resort to distress sales. The Minister observed that the higher prices realised during the previous season encouraged farmers to expand cultivation this year and added that companies should not cite factors such as increased taxes on cigarettes and related products as a ground for rejecting tobacco or limiting purchases.
The BriefWire